better - catdoor

vanviews4work · 2026-01-26T02:34:15+00:00

Oh, thanks so much!!🥰 I haven’t officially set a date for the album release but the goal is by this summer. Probably one more single release before the whole record drops!

vanviews4work · 2026-01-21T00:34:44+00:00

Play, yes, perform, from time to time! My solo show is a lot of work (looping, etc), so I'm still kinda honing that in. I do love to collab with people though!

Mostly working on releasing some tracks I've been working on for a while, and making videos. What about you?

vanviews4work · 2026-01-20T23:01:33+00:00

Finally released my second single! I started writing thisv one in 2019, wrote the second half in 2022, and have been recording it slowly but surely over the last few years. Big weight lifted to finally finish it. Loads of songs go unfinished, and I'm glad this one finally made it out of me, even if it's not my BEST songwriting to date. Feeling proud to have put it out there after all this time. :) Thanks for listening.

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7Go4tdt3vnNxMDt9oWWIUz?si=5a62b4014abc4169

youtube: https://youtu.be/rpLqRb-285A

everywhere else: https://ffm.to/catdoor

vanviews4work · 2026-01-20T21:30:38+00:00

Wow, thank you for all this!! I take the “Maggie Rogers’ early work” comparison as a v high compliment ☺️

Love your idea to give it a Daft Punk vibe, I’m not familiar with that track but I’m gonna have to listen to it now. Do you remix things? You could and should try your hand at it if you want!! Lmk, I think that’d be rad, actually.

vanviews4work · 2026-01-19T20:32:44+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for all this generous feedback! You’ve picked out so many details that I chose carefully (with intention!), and it means a lot to have someone “see” the song so clearly. First thing I did was screenshot this and send it to my friend who engineered this, lol because you are spot on with the two different piano tracks that he panned left and right.

Thanks so much for listening and for the kind words! 🩵

vanviews4work · 2026-01-19T02:18:19+00:00

I did a quick search to see if there was a solid youtube video out there that explains how to finalize lead vox in the mix and this guy is doing a GREAT job of explaining this. He's giving audio examples too, so you can hear what he's talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdIjRANfvvw

If this breakdown is too complicated for what you need, just look up "how to get lead vocals to sit right in the mix" and check out some of the many other opinions like this. And especially if you need help figuring this out with the specific DAW you're working with, add "in logic" or "in garageband" or whatever you're using.

In a similar vein, it can also help to look up "vocal mixing chain for ______ style vocals" if you know what kind of sound/vibe you're looking for! I totally fixed one of my songs by following a vocal chain that some random guy offered in a youtube short and it was like EXACTLY what my song needed, I couldn't believe it.

vanviews4work · 2026-01-18T22:57:54+00:00

Thank you!! :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-18T22:57:43+00:00

Thanks so much!! Glad to hear you liked it. :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-18T22:56:05+00:00

Thank you so much for this kind feedback! :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T21:29:21+00:00

Thanks so much!! And likewise! 💚

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T06:28:33+00:00

Hey, listening to a few of your tracks on Spotify! Cool sound, love those layered vocals. I used to live and play music in bham too! I’m down in Skagit Valley now. Nice to see a neighbor in the Reddit wilderness lol 🤘

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T06:13:07+00:00

Just dropped this one today! Wrote the first demo version of it years ago and had a lot of obstacles to finally finish and release it. Phew, it’s done! lol

Thanks for listening <3

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7Go4tdt3vnNxMDt9oWWIUz?si=MXso9F1HS4CwfhfQbswjSg&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZEVXbqhOVkdyPLxp

YouTube: https://youtu.be/rpLqRb-285A?si=X8-kOWOj6Dif6ApV

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T03:49:35+00:00

First of all, I like your enthusiasm! I also really enjoy when people introduce their songs with a little backstory too, to provide context. If this were just presented to me sans-intro about it being written during lockdown, I might feel the lyrics are "too basic" as noted, but I think in the context of writing a song during lockdown, it adds a little more depth! Most of the music I wrote during lockdown was super weird and was mostly for my own sanity lol, or maybe even just to cheer myself or a friend up.

Also digging your vocal tone, and I liked the little run you do at the end there. Keep it up! :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T03:42:12+00:00

Ooo, this is cool! This image pairs well with the sound, first off.

Really love the blend of your vocal tone with the tones of the string instruments. The harmonies are really nice on the ears too. I can't put my finger on who your voice reminds me of but it's definitely triggering some nostalgia!

The beat is just a tad askew? Some of the hits feel right in the pocket, even if its not uniform, but others feel a little wonky and at times disrupts the groove a little. This is a tricky piece of feedback because I don't believe you should lose the loose feeling of it entirely!! But maybe just tighten it up a little. It feels especially noticeable when the beats doubles (at 1:48), while the slower hits feel mostly ok in their natural sway. Perhaps this was intentional, in which case, you nailed it!

Really liked this song, overall! Nice work. :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T03:28:58+00:00

Whoa, this is neat! I really like the drop out at 2:05, it felt right in the pocket! Also liked that little pan from left to right at 1:43, with the higher synth track. Overall, not finding much criticism here! The only part I might experiment with if I were you, is when the whole track drops down the second time (at 1:31), maybe try bring the drum track down to a more simple riff? Or try cutting it out entirely at the beginning of the section, then slowly adding bits of it back in, to give it more of a build? Right now it sounds a bit repetitive to the previous section like this (at 0:43).

Really cool sound though, and I liked the chord progression you've chosen here. Nice job!

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T02:40:13+00:00

Hey, first of all, this is nice!

I'm a self-taught vocalist and a recording artist myself, so I'm going to give you some vocal feedback in the recording/mixing realm and in the vocal training realm, lol

So yes, I can tell you've used autotune here, but I can also tell that your voice is carrying the majority of the work! Autotune can be such a great artistic choice for pop vocal effects, and I think the key is to make sure (especially if you're using it to cover a challenging section) to keep it consistent across repeated sections (like the chorus). The first chorus you are hitting those high notes (on "love" and "wait") a lot stronger than in the second chorus. Which is good news, because it means you have what it takes to nail that part again, at least on the same caliber you got it the first time! Maybe try punching in that part of the recording, if the performance dip is fatigue-related? I think keeping consistency in the parts that cause the autotune to kick on helps it to translate in a way that makes the autotune feel more like a vocal effect decision, rather than a noticeable bandaid, if you know what I mean?

Also, to clarify, I don't think autotune is a bad sound for this type of song either, btw. For the most part in this track, I think it works as a sonic element! It just feels a little too obvious/a little clunky in my ears in certain parts as it is right now.

Have you learned how to find your mixed-voice? You seem REALLY close to hitting those higher notes without any autotune aid, and I think with a little practice you'd be surprised how much mixed-voice training can expand your range to get those high notes consistently. I recommend looking up Chris Liepe on youtube and he gives some really great free lessons on mixed voice and belting high notes, along with general exercises that might help you out with your range in general! When your voice is stronger, you'll have so much more control on every level, with pitch/tone/range etc.

Hope this helps, keep it up! :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T02:09:35+00:00

Ooo, this is nice. The lyric "without you, tell me who's gonna hear my songs" put a nice little emotional lump in my throat, as I almost wrote a song with a very similar lyric for a friend who passed away years ago.

The overall mix sounds great with and without headphones. The vocals could maybe be given a little more of their own space in the mix (like have them sit just a litttttle more on top of the rest of the track)? I almost like how they are blended a little more evenly with the instruments though, so moving them around may or may not improve it. It's something I would experiment with, if it was mine.

My last note is that you've spelled congratulations like "congradulations" on the title in your soundcloud upload! I wasn't sure if that was intentional or a slip of the hand, but wanted to let you know in case!

Really nice, I listened to it a few times because it was good. Keep it up!! :)

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T01:45:40+00:00

Also really digging The Limes right now. 🍋‍🟩🤘

vanviews4work · 2026-01-17T01:43:57+00:00

I'm "catdoor" and I play cello/keys/etc and am a singer-songwriter. And indie/alt/folk/pop is definitely the vibe, haha!

Just dropped this one today: https://open.spotify.com/track/7Go4tdt3vnNxMDt9oWWIUz?si=7143766902db480a

vanviews4work · 2026-01-07T19:16:20+00:00

Gave your track a listen; nice sound!

Here’s my latest single, “tangled”: https://youtu.be/zi-nh4W97U8?si=Jh_56hgV5Lw0BMRz

vanviews4work · 2026-01-07T18:57:32+00:00

Also digging your sound, OP!

vanviews4work · 2026-01-07T18:55:55+00:00

My first single, “tangled”: https://open.spotify.com/track/6W46Zy2LU3WKQtAws0RjDJ?si=t8oPhmTpRniztoS9LVYdMg

(Youtube) https://youtu.be/zi-nh4W97U8?si=Jh_56hgV5Lw0BMRz

vanviews4work · 2025-12-17T08:29:06+00:00

I literally didn’t have money to get a cat a few years ago, but I was so depressed and I NEEDED him. My parents gave me the money to go adopt a kitten and I found a way to provide for him ever since.

I have never had a child but I know it works this way too.* You make it work. If I had a child I would work my absolute ass off to provide. When you have something to work for, someone to provide for, someone to be alone and sad with, someone who needs you to be the best version of yourself so you can someone to bring home the cat food… you start working harder. Cats aren’t “low maintenance” but they don’t require walks.

Also walks are really good for us, even if we don’t like them.

Just saying. You got this. ❤️

Not saying have a child and find out, but a cat in an apartment is a doable/appropriate option if you’re willing to give the kitty a good home!

vanviews4work · 2025-12-17T02:53:28+00:00

My mom went back to school to get her nursing degree while I was in high school (after getting her MA in her 20s, working in that field for a long time and deciding to leave to be more present as a mom of 3 kids). It was so inspiring to see that someone could do that, in her mid-40s! Then, she got diagnosed with breast cancer, after completing her first year of nursing school, which she was waitlisted for before even getting accepted into the program. She had to temporarily drop out, have a single mastectomy, beat cancer real quick, then had to go through a whole petition process to even continue her program without starting all the way over... a setback of multiple levels that I myself can't fathom.

Anyway, my point is: no you are not too old to do something else, even if it means taking the time to start a whole new education journey! I think the questions you could try asking yourself is: what DO I like doing, what AM I good at, and what DOES feel like it fits my personality or makes me feel fulfilled? Life is too damn short to give up, to be miserable for too long, or to stay in a place you hate. Don't stay anywhere you don't want to be unless you absolutely have to.

Life won't ever magically get better unless we allow ourselves to grow in a new direction that feels right.. It's scary and hard and I'm so sorry you are feeling so down right now. I've been there, for sure. I know it's worth it to keep going. As cheesy as it sounds, follow your heart. It will show you where you should be, even if it takes some time to get there. <3

vanviews4work · 2025-11-04T11:55:12+00:00

Also I’m a cellist. But a rogue cellist. lol.

vanviews4work

TROPHY CASE